When The Villainess Became The Heiress

Laughter rang out in the abandoned building behind the college. A circle of girls surrounded a figure kneeling on the sharp gravel, her knees pierced by its edges. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Another day, another torment. One girl with her hair tied back stepped forward. “Aww, poor thing… Crying already?” she mocked, yanking the girl’s hair so her face jerked upward. “It hurts!” Adelia whimpered, but the crowd only laughed louder. “Oh dear! Really? Does it really hurt, Adelia? Poor thing…” the girl sneered, slapping her hard across the face before bursting into delighted laughter. “Do my face look like I care? No, right?” she spat. “You think we don’t know what you’ve done?” She shoved Adelia’s bruised face aside. Adelia’s eyes burned with pain. Her cheek was swollen after getting hit a few times. The girl smirked. “You think your tricks will make us stop? Not a chance!” she hissed, throwing Adelia backward. Adelia fell, scraping her palms against the gravel. Her wounded knees were stomped on mercilessly. “Ah!” she cried out. “Stop… Please, stop!” she begged, her tears flowing freely. “Stop?” A voice cut through the laughter. Adelia’s heart leapt with hope—until she saw the figure she dreaded most. Evelyn. The leader of the bullies. The dark-haired girl crouched before her. “What did you say just now?” she demanded. Adelia stayed silent. “I asked you, stupid!” Evelyn roared, yanking her hair violently. “Stop!” Adelia cried again, louder this time. Evelyn smirked, then dragged Adelia toward a pillar. Adelia screamed and struggled, but Evelyn’s grip was iron. With ease, she slammed her against the pillar. Her head struck it hard making the shock rattling her mind. Evelyn’s cold gaze bore into her while the others smiled in satisfaction. “You love humiliating people, don’t you?” Evelyn sneered. Adelia’s breath came in ragged gasps. “You deserve to be ashamed!” she suddenly shouted, silencing everyone—even Evelyn. “You bully people like you’re some kind of queen! But what exactly do you even have? You’re rich, but your parents don’t even love you! No wonder your father abandoned you!” Adelia spat, her voice trembling with fury. Evelyn’s eyes widened before her fist smashed into Adelia’s face. “You f*cking b*tch! How dare you say that to me?!” she screamed, punching her face again and again. Adelia could no longer fight back. Evelyn’s friends grew uneasy—if this continued, someone might die. Finally, they pulled Evelyn away from the battered girl, who was gasping and nearly unconscious. “Let me go! I’ll finish her off!” Evelyn snarled. “Enough, Evelyn! Adelia can’t take it anymore. You’ll kill her if you keep going!” one of them warned. Evelyn clenched her jaw, then stood. “This time I’ll let you go, Adelia. But don’t think you’ll escape next time! I’ll make sure you’re done for!” she shouted, spitting on the ground. The group left, abandoning Adelia weak and bruised on the floor. Her consciousness was fading, but she forced herself to rise, staggering out of the deserted building. The streets were eerily quiet. No one was around. Adelia dragged her aching legs forward, her whole body throbbing. She longed to collapse on the pavement, but she knew she had to get home. As she passed shuttered buildings, a voice called out. “Child… Hey, little child…” Her skin prickled. Her face turned pale. She glimpsed a hunched figure at an empty bus stop. Adelia swallowed hard and quickened her pace. The old woman’s head turned, following her. “Child…” the elder called again, but Adelia ignored her. Suddenly, something strong gripped her hand. Adelia froze. Her face drained of color. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. The grip felt nothing like a normal human’s. “Grandchild… Where are you rushing off to?”